SAANICH'S GROW-OP BYLAW COULD BE TEMPLATE FOR OTHERS

The municipality of Saanich has come up with an interesting solution
to the problem of marijuana grow-operations that end up destroying the
house or apartment they occupy.

Saanich council unanimously passed a bylaw recently that would force
the owners of so-called 'grow houses' to pay for the cleaning of
carpets and heating ducts, along with thorough safety inspections that
need to be carried out before a tenant can safely move back in.

Assuming the bylaw passes, Saanich would be the first municipality on
the Island with legislation to deal specifically with grow-ops.

Similar bylaws were enacted by councils in Abbotsford, Surrey and
Langley following the recent proliferation of grow houses in those
cities.

While opponents of the Saanich bylaw argue it does nothing to
discourage criminals because it does not penalize them, the law is a
good start because it puts the onus on landlords to be responsible for
their properties.

Good landlords would make the necessary repairs before a tenant moves
in anyway, so the law really only punishes irresponsible landlords,
both those who would rent out their houses chock full of toxic mould
to unsuspecting tenants, and those who enter into a "grow arrangement"
with tenants.

As a further measure to prevent grow-ops, which would also offer some
protection for responsible landlords, police say the Landlord & Tenant
Act should be amended to allow landlords to regularly inspect their
properties.